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To add, seats are wider European style and the steering wheel grip is a little thicker. Most of the Salons I've seen usually have more options. Not sure if that is because the ones I've seen had the options or if they were considered more of a luxury car similar to the brougham, I just don't know. I know the three I have all have p/w, cruise and a/c in addition to the options Oldzee mentioned. Also, I believe the Salon is much rarer than the Supreme. Not sure of the production numbers.
Would be a ton more Supremes due to the fact they were available with bench and split bench (Brougham). ALL Salons were buckets. I believe the Salon’s standard wheel cover was different from the Supreme. The Salon’s had a body colored center on the cover.
They also made 4 door salons in '76. I flipped out the first time I saw one! Just wasn't used to seeing buckets and a console in a 4 door car. The buckets still recline but don't flip forward like the 2 door.
Also looking back at the OP's question, yes, the body and frame are the same...
They are just different trim levels of the same basic car, like F85 vs Cutlass vs Supreme. For 1976, the Supreme was supposed to be the luxury version, the Salon was supposed to be more of the European touring car version.
Four door Salons were available at least as early as 1973. It was more than a trim upgrade. Handling and suspension specs were quite different and also front end alignment specs. The cars were designed to beat the Europeans at their own game and even Car & Driver grudgingly admitted Salon beat Mercedes everywhere except the German pedigree.
Four door Salons were available at least as early as 1973. It was more than a trim upgrade. Handling and suspension specs were quite different and also front end alignment specs. The cars were designed to beat the Europeans at their own game and even Car & Driver grudgingly admitted Salon beat Mercedes everywhere except the German pedigree.
Four door Salons were available at least as early as 1973. It was more than a trim upgrade. Handling and suspension specs were quite different and also front end alignment specs. The cars were designed to beat the Europeans at their own game and even Car & Driver grudgingly admitted Salon beat Mercedes everywhere except the German pedigree.
73 was the first year for the salon. 4dr only.
Coupe was added in 74.
in addition to the above..15in wheels w radials were standard, steering wheel was specific, and the steering gear was different.
there was also a unique woodgrain panel below the glove box. Inside door panels are the same as plain cutlass(no carpet at bottom).
salons did not necessarily come loaded. My 74 has no power options, but others were fully loaded.
Sport mirrors and the 74 only 15in ralleys w bolt ons were available on the salon, but the wheels came with whitewalls, as the only 15in radial available was a whitewall (Firestone , and maybe others)
note.. the print ads for the salon appeared to intentionally blur the tires so as not to be brand specific(?)
I had numerous Salons as demos over the years. They were great cars. As mentioned, I did typically order Salons with a higher equipment list than Supremes. I usually ordered my demos pretty well maxed out. We never had any trouble selling them.
supremecpe, Yes, her car has the 6 way power seat & pwr trunk, also rally gauges. It even has pulse wipers! It's pretty much loaded but the original owner didn't order cruise?. As for the stance, it's a 350 car & Cheryl had big block springs added when some front end work was done years ago. She was planning to put a 455/th400 in it but that never happened. It sagged in the rear as a result & when I went through the car back in '09 I used some billet spring spacers in the back to raise it up a bit. We like the stance also!. Here's a couple more pics, It runs as good as it looks!!!
January 13th, 2021, 03:00 PM
